Tubular key decoder

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for determining and decoding the length of axially directed cuts about the periphery of tubular keys for axial pin tumbler locks wherein the key to be decoded is held on a rotatable spindle which may be moved to the corresponding positions of the key cuts and an axially shiftable radially directed probe is set at the upper end of the cut to be determined. A handle porton is rotated relative to the probe and key with cooperating incrementally spaced abutments and a stop providing both a visual and positive indication of the axial length of cut being measured.

United States Patent [191 Falk [ Aug. 27, 1974 TUBULAR KEY DECODER [75]Inventor: Morris Falk, Palm Springs, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Fort Lock Corporation, Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 I21 I Appl. No.: 325,239

[52] 11.8. CI 33/169 B, 33/174 F I51 Int. Cl. G0lb 3/28 [58] Field ofSearch 33/169 B, 174 F; 70/363,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Tarrie 33/174 F Martin70/394 Brand 70/411 Primary Examiner-William D. Martin, Jr. AssistantExaminerWillis Little Attorney, Agent, or FirmWolfe, Hubbard, Leydig,Voit & Osann, Ltd.

571 ABSTRACT Apparatus for determining and decoding the length ofaxially directed cuts about the periphery of tubular keys for axial pintumbler locks wherein the key to be decoded is held on a rotatablespindle which may be moved to the corresponding positions of the keycuts and an axially shiftable radially directed probe is set at theupper end of the cut to be determined. A handle porton is rotatedrelative to the probe and key with cooperating incrementally spacedabutments and a stop providing both a visual and positive indication ofthe axial length of cut being measured.

12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENIEumczmm DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to apparatus for decoding tubular keycuts and more particularly concerns a tubular key decoding apparatuswhich permits rapid and accurate determination. of a wide variety oftypes of cuts as well as being suitable for use with various differentsizes of tubular keys.

The axial pin tumbler lock such as the type generally described in U.S.Pat. No. 3,504,748, is becomingincreasingly more widespread in use, andnaturally, this has created an increased demand for keys for such locks.There is disclosed and claimed in-Kotov et al. U.S. application Ser.No.,.2l5,029 filed .Ian. 3, 197.2, assigned to the assignee of thepresent invention, a tubular key cutting machine which'permits .therapid production of key bites of accurate axial length and radial depthat determined angular locations about a tubular key blank. When the keycode is known or predetermined, such machine iscapable of rapidlyproducing keys at low cost even in the hands of inexperienced personnel.

However, where duplicate keys are required and the code for the key thatis to be reproduced is unknown, heretofore known techniques and devicesused for decoding the key are difficult and time consuming as well asrequiring the attention of skilled persons. Moreover, with the advent ofmore complex types of cuts on the tubular keys, such for example. as thestepped cut of the type disclosed and claimed in Morris Falk U.S.applica tion Ser. No. 260,162 filed June 6, 1972, now US. Pat. No.3,738,l36 assignedto the assignee of the present invention, there was anincreased need for a more reliable and versatile type of key decodingapparatus.

It is therefore the general aim of this invention to provide a tubularkey decoding apparatus which will permit the rapid and accuratedetermination of key cuts in tubular keys that is extremely versatile inits application and may be handled by even inexperienced personnel. Morespecifically, it is an object to provide a .tubular key decodingapparatus which will accurately determine the axial length of key bitesat determined angular locations about a tubular key shank. It is anotherspecific object to provide a tubular key decoding apparatus wherein thekey may be quickly and easily mounted, decoded, and dismounted.

It is another object to provide a tubular key cut decoding apparatuswhich gives a positive and accurate determination of the axial length ofkey cuts that may be located at standard angularlocations as well asnonstandard locations without requiring complex manipulations. It is arelated object to providea decoding apparatus which will decode variablecuts such as stepped cuts as well as having the ability to be adapted tostandard and non-standard sizes of tubular keys and standard andnon-standard cut increments.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such an improvedtubular key decoding apparatus which is completely selfcontainedandreadily lends itself to performance of all the necessary operationsrequired for reproducing 'key cuts in tubular keys of all types.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with .the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side plan view showing the overall organization of thetubular key decoding apparatus with a'tubular key being placed over thekey receiving spindle for decoding in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view similar to FIG. 1, here depicting the key inposition on the spindle and showing the manner in which the decodingapparatus indicates the code for the key bite being determined;

- FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line4-4.in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view taken in the plane of line 5-5 in FIG.

,2 showing the stop and depth indicator of the decoding apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 66in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the components and parts ofthe decoder apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side plan view of the lower portion of theapparatus of FIG.'2, here illustrating the alternative ring member forindicating the code of the key bite being determined; and

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Turning to the drawings, there is shown inFIG. 1 an embodiment of the novel tubular key decoding apparatus 10comprising the present invention. The decoding apparatus 10 is used witha key 12 such as that shown in FIG. 1, which is provided with a handleportion 13 and a tubular shank 14 about the periphery of which areindentations or bites 15 comprising the key combinations to be decoded.For details of the tubular key of the type with which the presentapparatus may be -utilized with reference is made to the aforementionedTrainor U.S. Pat. No. 3,504,748 and Trainor application Ser. No. 222,601filed Feb. I, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,286 on Tubular Key, allassigned to the assignee of the present invention. As the discussionproceeds, it will be appreciated that the present decoder apparatus maybe utilized with the various different types of tubular keys availablealthough the keys may differ in dimension such as diameter and length ofthe tubular shank or differ in form such as the configuration of the keyactuating lug or projection as well as other variations employed bydifferent manufacturers ofaxial pin tumbler locks.

In the context of the present invention, the decoder apparatus isutilized to determine the axial length of the bites 15 that areangularly positioned about the periphery of the tubular shank. To thisend, the key 12 is first mounted on the stepped spindle 16 whichslidably receives the key. The spindle 16 is stepped so as to present ashoulder or stop 17 that limits the axial length to which the tubularkey shank may be positioned on the spindle (FIG. 2). The spindle 16 mayalso include a groove 18 which receives the inwardly projecting lug onthe key shank (not shown) so that the key is fixed against rotationrelative to the spindle.

In order to locate the key 12 held on the spindle 16 at selected angularpositions, the spindle is rotatably carried with respect to a body orhandle cylinder 20. In the illustrative embodiment, the spindle issecured to a collar 22 by means of a suitable set screw 23 or the likeand the collar in turn is secured to a rod 24 by a pin 25, the rod inturn being rotatably mounted to the handle such as by bolt 27 and washer28 (FIG. 6).

To enable the user to quickly identify the key bites when positioningthe collar 22, index numbers are formed about the periphery of thecollar for designating the angular location of the collar to positionthe key with a corresponding bite in a predetermined position. Theseindex numbers may be 1 to 7 for a standard seven cut key or, more orless index numbers may be used as will be apparent to those skilled inthe art. The use of a separate spindle 16. that may be removed fromcollar 22 by loosening the set screw 23 permits a change of the spindleto different size spindles where the decoder might be used with tubularkey shanks which may not fit on the one spindle selected for thedecoder.

In keeping with the present invention, an axially shiftable probe isprovided to determine the axial length of the key cut from a presetreference which in the present instance is the end of the tubular keyshank selected as the zero position. The probe 30 has a radiallyprojecting finger 32 that can be positioned against the spindle 16 sothat when the key 12 is placed on the spindle the leading edge of thetubular key shank will come to rest against the stop 17 and the top ofthe finger 32. The finger 32 may then be moved radially outward to clearthe web of the key bite and then moved axially upwardly by the axialdepth of the cut being measured whereupon the tip of the finger comes torest against the extreme upper edge of thekey bite.

In order to enable the radial movement of the probe 30, its outer end isconnected to the upper end of an arm 34, the latter being pivotallymounted to a yoke member 36. The yoke 36, in turn, is mounted to acylinder 38 which surrounds the rod 24 and telescopes within the handle20. The arrangement is such that the probe with its supporting elementsincluding the arm 34, yoke 36, and cylinder 38 as an assembly may berotated with respect to the handle and the spindle with its collararrangement as well as being axially shiftable along the rod 24 betweenthe collar 22 and the handle 20.

For the purpose of normally biasing the probe in wardly in the radialdirection a. spring 40 is interposed between the lower end of the arm 34and the cylinder 38. The spring is held in place by being seated in arecess 42 in the arm 34 and a pin 44 disposed in the cylinder 38projects into the spring (FIG. 6). An adjustment screw 46 passingthrough the arm 34 and bearing against the cylinder 38 permits the probeto be positively held in a preselected position away from the spindle 16or to be moved to any desired position and held there.

For the purpose of positively and visually indicating the axial depth ofcut of a key bite by rotation of the handle 20 there is provided acooperating stepped depth indicator and stop arrangement. To this end,the depth indicator in the form of a ring 48, as best shown in FIG. 7,is removably secured to the handle 20 by cap screws 50. On the uppersurface of the ring 48 are a series of steps 52 which rise from oneanother by prcdctermined increments selected as the standard for theincremental differences between the lengths of key cuts used and alsocorresponding to the lengths of combination pins. Thus, in theillustrative embodiment the surface of the ring 48 is taken as thereference position. There are eight steps 52 each one being marked and,for example, where the increments of cut are selected as 0.015 inchesstep 0 would have'a height of 0.015 inch, step 1 .030 inch, step 2 .045inch, step 3. 060 inch, and so on.

In order to register a reading, there is provided an indicator and stopmember 54 (FIGS. 5 and 7) which is adjustably' fixed to cylinder 38 bycap screw 55. The stop indicator 54 has an elongated opening 56 toreceive the cap screw 55 as well as a pin 57 connected to the cylinder38. This arrangement allows the stop indicator to be adjusted upwardlyand downwardly for setting as well as preventing any rotation of theindicator thereby assuring it is firmly held in position.

At the lower end of the stop indicator there are two downwardlyextending projections, 58 and 59. Projection 58 along the inner side ofthe bottom surface of the stop indicator is a smaller projection whichserves as an abutment to positively prevent further relative rotation ofthe handle 20 when the appropriate step 52 is struck thereby indicatingthe increment corresponding to the axial depth of cut being measured bythe probe 30. The longer projection 59 protrudes outboard of the ring 48and points to the appropriate index number on the side of the ringproviding a visual indication of the code for the key bite beingmeasured.

In order to more fully understand the mode of operation of the decodingapparatus 10, reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2, conjointly. Priorto initiation of the decoding operation, the key 12 is first placed overthe spindle 16 with the probe end 32 being against the spindle and theentire probe assembly being in the downwardmost position where the stopprojection 58 is on the reference plane of the ring 48. When the key iscompletely on the spindle so that its forward edge rests on the shoulder17, it should also rest on the top of the probe end 32 or the necessaryadjustments may be made to zero out the apparatus with the variousadjustments provided.

Once the apparatus is set, the collar 22 may be rotated so that thefirst key bite, indicated by the reference 1 on the collar, is in radialalignment with the end 32 of the probe. The probe assembly then may bemoved upwardly until the probe end 32 abuts the upper edge of the keybite at position 1.

At this point, referring to FIG. 2, the handle 20 may be rotatedrelative to the probe assembly, the key held on the spindle and thecollar assembly until the stop abutment 58 strikes a step preventing itsfurther relative rotation with respect to the handle 20. As indicated inFIG. 2 in phantom this will occur when the stop indicator 54' reachesthe step marked 3 and this will be shown by the indicator projection59'. Accordingly, the code for the first key bite position is 3 or 0.060inch when the aforementioned 0.015 inch increments are utilized.

The handle may then be rotated in the opposite direction and the probeassembly moved downwardly until the stop is at the reference planeagain. The key may then be rotated to the second key bite position andthe procedure repeated for that position. The same procedure is followedfor each subsequent position about the key periphery until all the keybites have been decoded.

The use of the decoder is relatively simple and duplicate keys may bemade on a machine such as disclosed in the aforementioned Kotov et al.application Ser. No. 215,029 with relative ease after the codes havebeen determined. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art,that the present decoder is capable of functioning with complex cutssuch as the stepped or cut within a cut arrangement, cuts goingcompletely through the key wall and cuts in half spaces or positionsoutside of the standard seven or eight positions then may be utilizedwith conventional axial pin tumbler lock keys.

In addition, the ring 48 may be removed and other rings substitutedwhich contain steps 52 of different incremental dimensions than the0.015 inch suggested herein. Alternatively, a second set of steppedincrements 52' may be placed on the ring 48 (FIGS. 4 and 7) directlyopposite the steps 52. The second set of increments may for example, bespaced by the dimensional difference of 0.025 inch. Thus, the same ring48 would be useable for decoding keys of at least two of the typesavailable on the market without changing the ring and'simply be rotatingthe handle in one direction or the other.

As a still further alternative (FIGS. 8 and 9), instead of discretesteps, a sloped ramp 53, 53' may be used with micrometer readings markeddirectly instead of code indicia and the stop will strike the slopesurface giving the reading for depth of the key out which would be afunction of the sine of the slope angle.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for determining the axial length of cuts at angularlocations about a tubular key, comprising, in combination, a centrallylocated rod means, rotatable spindle means connected to one end of saidrod means for mounting a tubular key in any of a plurality ofpreselected angularly displaced locations, axially shiftable probe meansmounted intermediate the ends of said rod means for movement along apath parallel to the axially extending key cut for engagement with theextremity of the cut being determined, stop means carried by said probemeans, and rotatable indicator means carried by the other end of saidrod means and having a plurality of spaced incremental abutment pointswhereby rotation of said indicator means relative to said probe meansbrings the appropriate incremental abutment into engagement with saidstop to determine the axial length of the key cut being measured.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rotatable indicator meansincludes a handle portion, said probe means includes a radiallyextending finger connected to a pivotally mounted arm extending parallelto said key mounting spindle and said arm being carried by an axiallyshiftable cylinder member telescopingly received by said handle.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said handle includes theplurality of incrementally spaced abutments and said cylinder carriessaid stop means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said arm is spring biased fornormally urging said probe finger toward the spindle.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said incrementally spacedabutments are detachably connected to said handle.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spaced abutments aresteps.

7. Apparatus for determining the axial length of cuts at angularlocations about a tubular key, comprising, in combination, a centrallylocated rod means, rotatable spindle means connected to one end of saidrod means for mounting a tubular key in any of a plurality ofpreselected angularly displaced locations, axially shiftable probe meansmounted intermediate the ends of said rod means for movement along apath parallel to the axially extending key cut for engagement with theextremity of the out being determined, stop means carried by said probemeans, and rotatable indicator means carried by the other end of saidrod means including a smoothly sloped ramp defining incrementally spacedabutment points that lie on the slope surface thereof whereby rotationof said indicator means relative to said probe means brings theappropriate incremental abutment point on the surface of said slope intoengagement with said stop to determine the axial length of the key cutbeing measured.

8. Apparatus for determining the axial length of cuts at angularlocations about a tubular key, comprising, in combination, a centrallylocated rod means, a rotatable spindle means connected to said rod meansfor mounting a tubular key in any of a plurality of preselectedangularly displaced locations, a cylinder having a handle portionthereon rotatably mounted to said rod means at a spaced distance fromsaid spindle, a sleeve means surrounding said rod means and axiallyshiftable between said handle and said spindle means, probe meanscarried by said sleeve means, said probe means including a radiallyextending finger portion for engagement with the extremity of a cutbeing determined, stop means carried by said sleeve means adjacent saidhandle, and indicator means including a plurality of spaced incrementalabutments carried by said handle so that rotation of said handlerelative to said sleeve means stop brings an appropriate one of saidincremental abutments into engagement with said stop to indicate theaxial length of the key cut being measured.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said probe means includes apivotally mounted arm extending generally parallel to said key mountingspindle and said arm being carried outboard of said cylindrical sleevewith a yoke member fixedly attached to said cylindrical sleeve.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said incremental abutmentsare formed on the surface of an annular ring, said ring being detachablymounted to the upper surface of the cylindrical handle means.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said spindle means isconnected to said rod means through a collar and said collar is markedwith indicia of the angular location of said axial cuts about thetubular key.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said ring includes indiciaof the incremental spaced abutments and said stop means includes anindicator arm to align with the particular indicia of the abutment towhich said stop is in engagement with.

1. Apparatus for determining the axial length of cuts at angularlocations about a tubular key, comprising, in combination, a centrallylocated rod means, rotatable spindle means connected to one end of saidrod means for mounting a tubular key in any of a plurality ofpreselected angularly displaced locations, axially shiftable probe meansmounted intermediate the ends of said rod means for movement along apath parallel to the axially extending key cut for engagement with theextremity of the cut being determined, stop means carried by said probemeans, and rotatable indicator means carried by the other end of saidrod means and having a plurality of spaced incremental abutment pointswhereby rotation of said indicator means relative to said probe meansbrings the appropriate incremental abutment into engagement with saidstop to determine the axial length of the key cut being measured. 2.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rotatable indicator meansincludes a handle portion, said probe means includes a radiallyextending finger connected to a pivotally mounted arm extending parallelto said key mounting spindle and said arm being carried by an axiallyshiftable cylinder member telescopingly received by said handle. 3.Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said handle includes theplurality of incrementally spaced abutments and said cylinder carriessaid stop means.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said arm isspring biased for normally urging said probe finger toward the spindle.5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said incrementally spacedabutments are detachably connected to said handle.
 6. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said spaced abutments are steps.
 7. Apparatusfor determining the axial length of cuts at angular locations about atubular key, comprising, in combination, a centrally located rod means,rotatable spindle means connected to one end of said rod means formounting a tubular key in any of a plurality of preselected angularlydisplaced locations, axially shiftable probe means mounted intermediatethe ends of said rod means for movement along a path parallel to theaxially extending key cut for engagement with the extremity of the cutbeing determined, stop means carried by said probe means, and rotatableindicator means carried by the other end of said rod means including asmoothly sloped ramp defining incrementally spaced abutment points thatlie on the slope surface thereof whereby rotation of said indicatormeans relative to said probe means brings the appropriate incrementalabutment point on the surface of said slope into engagement with saidstop to determine the axial length of the key cut being measured. 8.Apparatus for determining the axial length of cuts at angular locationsabout a tubular key, comprising, in combination, a centrally located rodmeans, a rotatable spindle means connected to said rod means formounting a tubular key in any of a plurality of preselected angularlydisplaced locations, a cylinder having a handle portion thereonrotatably mounted to said rod means at a spaced distance from saidspindle, a sleeve means surrounding said rod means and axially shiftablebetween said handle and said spindle means, probe means carried by saidsleeve means, said probe means including a radially extending fingerportion for engagement with the extremity of a cut Being determined,stop means carried by said sleeve means adjacent said handle, andindicator means including a plurality of spaced incremental abutmentscarried by said handle so that rotation of said handle relative to saidsleeve means stop brings an appropriate one of said incrementalabutments into engagement with said stop to indicate the axial length ofthe key cut being measured.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 whereinsaid probe means includes a pivotally mounted arm extending generallyparallel to said key mounting spindle and said arm being carriedoutboard of said cylindrical sleeve with a yoke member fixedly attachedto said cylindrical sleeve.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 whereinsaid incremental abutments are formed on the surface of an annular ring,said ring being detachably mounted to the upper surface of thecylindrical handle means.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 whereinsaid spindle means is connected to said rod means through a collar andsaid collar is marked with indicia of the angular location of said axialcuts about the tubular key.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 whereinsaid ring includes indicia of the incremental spaced abutments and saidstop means includes an indicator arm to align with the particularindicia of the abutment to which said stop is in engagement with.